BAHRAIN: COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM 2009

UNCLAS MANAMA 000740

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR S/CT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM 2009

REF: STATE 109980


1. (SBU) Post's submission for this year's Country Report on
Terrorism follows below.


2. (SBU) In 2009, the Government of Bahrain monitored
suspected international terrorist facilitators in Bahrain.
GOB law enforcement succeeded in jailing a man suspected of
providing financial support of terrorism. The GOB also
foiled an alleged attack plot that was in the early stages of
planning. In addition, Bahraini security services have
worked closely and cooperatively with international partners.



3. (SBU) Finance: Adel Saleh, a Bahraini citizen arrested in
June 2008 was convicted February 4, 2009 on charges of
maintaining links to al-Qa'ida and financing terrorism.
According to testimony offered during his trial, Saleh
traveled to Iran three times to deliver 50,500 euros to
al-Qa'ida operatives. He received a one-year sentence with
credit for time served since his arrest. Prosecutors
appealed, seeking a longer sentence, but the appeal process
ended when Saleh, along with 177 other prisoners and
detainees, was pardoned by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on
April 11. Two other defendants in the same case who were
tried in absentia were convicted on similar charges and
sentenced to five years' imprisonment. They were not
pardoned.


4. (SBU) Foiled Attack: Security forces monitored the
activities of two Bahraini citizens and arrested them on
April 26. During the arrest, the authorities discovered
automatic weapons, ammunition, a pistol, hunting knives, and
a sword, along with evidence indicating the accused were in
the early stages of planning an attack against U.S. Navy
interests. Prosecutors charged the men, one of whom was an
employee of the Ministry of Interior Customs Directorate,
with joining an international terrorist organization,
plotting attacks in Bahrain and elsewhere in the Gulf, and
various weapons charges. Their trial began on June 30 and
continued at year's end.


5. (SBU) On December 16, Bahrain deployed a company of
Special Security Forces to southern Afghanistan in support of
Coalition operations in Helmand province.


6. (SBU) Bahrain continued its cooperation with U.S.
authorities on counterterrorist finance. Its Financial
Information Unit (FIU) resides in the Central Bank of Bahrain
(CBB). The CBB, FIU, and local banks worked cooperatively on
counterterrorist finance and anti-money laundering issues.
The government is working with the U.S. Department of the
Treasury to host a conference on the regulation of Islamic
charities in early 2010. Bahrain also hosts the Middle East
and North Africa Financial Action Task Force secretariat, and
has cooperated actively with the Global Initiative to Combat
Nuclear Terrorism since formally endorsing the initiative in
March 2008.
ERELI